Vehicle floor

ABSTRACT

A blast absorption structure and system for use in absorbing blast forces exerted upon an armored vehicle is disclosed. The blast absorption structure includes a first absorption component and a second absorption component, wherein the first and second absorption components deform to absorb and slow the forces prior to reaching an occupant of the cabin. Deformation of the first and second components reduces the blast force load transmitted through the vehicle structure to the occupants&#39; lower extremities, thereby avoiding catastrophic injury to the lower extremities.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/615,694 filed on Mar. 26, 2012.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a blast absorbing structure and system for use in decreasing the extent of catastrophic injury to the occupants of a vehicle, including a military vehicle subjected to a blast. More specifically, the structure and system absorbs the energy from a blast before it reaches the lower extremities of the occupants in the vehicle cabin.

BACKGROUND

Armored vehicles are frequently threatened by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) designed to cause harm to the vehicle and its occupants. IEDs are typically one or more grouped artillery shells redeployed and detonated in an effort to inflict casualties. These explosive devices when detonated beneath a floor of a vehicle often create localized deformation of the floor of the vehicle thereby transmitting large vertical loads onto the lower extremities of occupants of the vehicle. For example, detonations below the underbelly of an armored vehicle may cause the vehicle floor to accelerate at 100 G or more and reach velocities of 7 to 12 m/s over a time period of 3 to 5 msec. These high rates of acceleration and velocity transmit large mechanical forces on the lower extremities of the occupants within the vehicle cabin, often resulting in catastrophic injury or worse.

Armor countermeasures typically consist of heavy metal plates placed between the threat and the vehicle in such a way as to resist hull breach and aggressive floor accelerations. These heavy metal plates also work in concert with layers of additional metal, ceramic, composite or plastic materials designed to prevent lethal high velocity fragments from entering the vehicle. The heavy metal plates are typically mounted to the underside of the vehicle in shapes to take advantage of venting efficiency, inherent geometric stiffness, and deflection characteristics when presented with incoming pressure and fragmentation. Carrying a heavy blast and fragment resistant hulls results in significant performance disadvantage to the vehicle in terms of reduced fuel economy, lost cargo capacity and increased transportation shipping costs.

In addition to the outer metal plates, the interior of the personnel cabin may include a blast mat. During a blast event on an armored vehicle, the lower extremities of the occupants of the vehicle are frequently subjected to injuries from the blast energy being transmitted through the vehicle structure. One current solution to dissipate the energy is to use blast mats on the floor where the occupants of the vehicle rest their feet. However, current blast mats are expensive and heavy, often contributing unwanted additional weight to an already heavy vehicle.

Therefore, there is a need for an efficient, cost-effective energy absorbing system for use during a high acceleration event, such as a blast event underneath the vehicle. The present structure and system is usable, for example, in a personnel cabin of a vehicle, specifically as a floor, and includes an energy absorbing device for absorbing and dissipating the blast forces from an explosive device, thereby lessening the impact of the forces on the lower extremities of the occupants of the vehicle. The device includes energy absorbing supports, a flat panel or surface positioned on top of the supports, and at least one retainer or guide to maintain the movement direction of the surface. The energy absorbing supports suspended the top surface, creating a “floating floor” to improve the absorption and dissipation of forces exerted on the underbelly of the vehicle during a blast event, while avoiding the negative tradeoffs of alternative designs.

SUMMARY

There is disclosed herein a structure and system, each of which avoids the disadvantages of prior structures and devices while affording additional structural and operating advantages.

Generally speaking, a blast absorbing structure for use in absorbing blast forces exerted on a floor of a personnel cabin of a vehicle is disclosed.

In an embodiment, the blast structure comprises a first absorption component for initial absorption of the blast forces exerted on the floor of the vehicle and a second absorption component for secondary absorption of the blast forces, wherein the first and second absorption components cooperatively move between an initial position and a blast force position to diminish the blast forces prior to the blast forces to reaching an occupant of the cabin.

In another embodiment, a blast absorbing system for use on a floor of a personnel cabin of a vehicle, is disclosed. The system comprises at least one energy absorbing component, a floating surface supported by the energy absorbing component, the floating surface moveable between an initial position and a blast force position, and a guide for retaining the floating surface in a horizontal position, wherein upon receipt of a blast force upon the floor, the energy absorbing components deform to absorb the blast force and diminish movement of the floating surface from the initial position to the blast force position.

These and other features and advantages of the present structure and system can be more readily understood from the following detailed discussion with reference to the appended drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the blast absorbing structure in use;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the blast absorbing structure of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a side view of blast absorbing structure during the initial phase of a blast event;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the blast absorbing structure after the initial blast phase;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the blast absorbing structure;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the blast absorbing structure; and,

FIG. 7 is a side view of the blast absorbing structure showing the guides.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, there is illustrated an exemplary embodiment of an blast energy absorbing structure and system, generally designated by the numeral 10, as well as the components thereof. The structure 10 is designed for use as a blast energy absorbing system on the cabin hull or lower floor structure 12 of a personnel cabin 14 of a vehicle (not shown). The blast energy absorbing structure is particularly useful on a military vehicle, which is used in war-zones for transporting personnel or cargo. This structure 10 will absorb energy from a blast, thus lessening the impact on the vehicle occupants' lower extremities, which rest on the structure, thereby reducing injury to the occupants.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the structure includes at least one energy absorbing support 20, which may also be referred to as a first absorption component. Although the present disclosure includes four supports, one at each corner of the structure 10, it should be understood that any number of supports may be used. Additionally, the energy absorbing support 20 may have any suitable shape, including but not limited to that of a pillar, square or rectangle (FIGS. 2-7) or a triangle or tapered side shape (FIG. 1). The energy absorbing support 20 are positioned directly on the lower floor structure 12 of the cabin 14, and can be secured through any suitable fastener device including, but not limited to screws, bolts or studs. Optionally, the supports 20 may be integrated into the lower floor structure 12 of the cabin.

The energy absorbing support 20 can be constructed from any suitable material such as a foamed material, including, but not limited to foamed aluminum, aluminum honeycomb, synthetic foams, such as polystyrene and/or polyethylene, other plastics, etc. Regardless of the material used for the supports, the material must be able to both support the normal walking loads (for example, a 300 pound load spread over a foot pressure representative area results in a deflection characteristic of existing production vehicle floors) and within a common specified working temperature range (−50° F. to 160° F.). Finally, the material must progressively crush during a blast load.

As shown in FIGS. 2-7, the structure 10 includes a top panel or surface 30 supported on the plurality of energy absorbing supports 20. The surface 30 is designed to “float” above the cabin hull or lower floor structure 12 of the vehicle. As illustrates, there is a deliberate air space 22 between the surface 30 and the lower floor structure 12 of the cabin. As will be explained below, the panel or surface 30 is not in a fixed position, which allows the surface to move in response to a blast event. In addition to being a second energy absorbing component, the surface 30 serves as a walking surface, essentially a floor, within the interior of the cabin. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the surface 30 is in direct contact with the lower extremities of the occupants of the vehicle, as the occupant's feet 16 rest directly on this surface.

The surface 30 or second absorption component can be constructed from a variety of material, including, but not limited to steel, aluminum, aluminum honeycomb, and any variety of plastics and composites of the same. Construction of the surface can be accomplished by any suitable method including cutting, metal molding, plastic injection molding, forming, bonding welding, etc.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the energy absorbing supports 20 and floating surface 30, work together to lessen in impact of a blast on the lower extremities of the occupants of the vehicle. In particular, immediately after an explosive blast, all of the components naturally move in an upward direction. It is this accelerated, upward movement of the floor structure during a blast that can cause catastrophic injuries to the lower extremities. However, in the present disclosure, the energy absorbing supports 30 crush in advance of the blast energy reaching the floating support, and thus, the floating support moves upward less quickly, lessening the impact of the blast on the lower extremities of the occupants. In addition, the air space 22 between the lower floor structure 12 of the cabin and the floating surface 30 provides an area to slow the blast forces.

In addition to the energy absorbing supports 20 and the moving floor 30, the structure 10 also includes a guide or retainer. Specifically, and as shown in FIGS. 5-7, there are several guides in the present system. The guides include retention plate 40, lateral guide 42 and fore/aft guides 44. The guides limit movement of the floating surface 30 generally during both blast and non-blast events. For example, because the floating surface 30 also acts as a walking floor, it should maintain some stability for walking, rather than constantly moving from the pressure of being walked upon. Therefore, the lateral guide 42 keeps the surface 30 from moving laterally, while the side guides 44 prevent the surface from moving fore and aft. The retention plate 40 not only compliments the lateral and side guides to secure the surface, but also prevents the surface from being propelled into the interior of the cabin during a blast event. However, the guides do not keep in the floating surface 30 in such a secured position that it cannot move in response to the crush of the energy supports 20 during a blast event.

In operation, and as described, the various components of the blast absorbing structure and system 10 work separately and in conjunction to dissipate at least some of the energy exerted on the underbelly of a vehicle cause by, for example, the explosion of an IED below the vehicle. In various exemplary embodiments, when an IED, or similar explosive device, is detonated below the vehicle, the force of the explosion causes the lower floor structure 12 of the vehicle to deform. This deformation in turn forces the floor against the lower extremities of any occupants of the vehicle. The blast absorbing system deforms and slows the upward motion of the force to help dissipate the force being exerted on the lower extremities of the occupants, thereby reducing the likelihood of injury to the occupants.

It should be appreciated that the above-referenced forces may include general deformation forces, localized deformation forces, general displacement forces, localized displacement forces, or any other force that may be exerted upon the underbelly of a vehicle.

It should also be appreciated that, while the above discussion is related to deformation forces caused by, for example, IED explosions, embodiments described herein may be usable to dissipate other forces, such as, for example, blunt forces impacts, grenade detonations, small arms fire, and any other force that may be exerted upon the underbelly of a vehicle. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A blast absorbing structure for use in absorbing blast force energy exerted on an underside of a personnel cabin of a vehicle, the structure comprising: a first absorption component for initial absorption of the blast forces exerted on the floor of the vehicle; and a second absorption component supported on the first absorption component for secondary absorption of the blast forces, wherein the first and second absorption components cooperatively move between an initial position and a blast force position to diminish the blast forces reaching an occupant of the cabin.
 2. The blast absorbing structure of claim 1, wherein the first absorbing component is an energy absorbing support.
 3. The blast absorbing structure of claim 2, wherein the first absorbing component further includes a plurality of energy absorbing supports.
 4. The blast absorbing structure of claim 1, wherein the first and second absorbing components form a floating floor of the vehicle.
 5. The blast absorbing structure of claim 2, wherein the energy absorbing support receives an initial blast force exerted on the underside of the vehicle.
 6. The blast absorbing structure of claim 2, wherein the energy absorbing support deforms in response to the initial blast force.
 7. The blast absorbing structure of claim 1, wherein the second absorption component is a moveable surface.
 8. The blast absorbing structure of 7, wherein the moveable surface is horizontally supported by the first absorbing component.
 9. The blast absorbing structure of claim 8, wherein the moveable surface is a floating surface.
 10. The blast absorbing structure of claim 7, wherein the surface is moveable in a vertical direction in response to the deformation of the energy absorbing support when the blast force is exerted on the energy absorbing support.
 11. The blast absorbing structure of claim 10, wherein the vertical movement of the surface is diminished by the deformation of the energy absorbing support.
 12. The blast absorbing structure of claim 8, wherein the moveable surface is in direct contact with at least one lower extremity of the occupant of the cabin.
 13. The blast absorbing structure of claim 1, wherein the structure further includes a plurality of guides for limiting movement of the surface prior to a blast event.
 14. A blast absorbing system for use in absorbing blast energy exerted on a personnel cabin of a vehicle, the system comprising: at least one energy absorbing component; a floating surface supported by the energy absorbing component, the floating surface moveable between an initial position and a blast force position; a guide for retaining the floating surface in a horizontal position, wherein upon receipt of a blast force upon the floor, the energy absorbing component deforms to absorb the blast force and diminish movement of the floating surface from the initial position to the blast force position.
 15. The blast absorbing system of claim 14, wherein the system further includes a second guide for limiting movement of the floating surface. 